The Rams' Sean McVay accepts the award for The Associated Press 2017 NFL Coach of the Year at the seventh annual NFL Honors at the Cyrus Northrop Memorial Auditorium on Saturday in Minneapolis(Photo: MICHAEL ZORN/NFL)

The Rams aren’t playing on Super Bowl Sunday, but that won’t keep them from bringing home some serious hardware from Minneapolis.

The Rams dominated the NFL Honors on Saturday night, becoming the first team in the 45-year history of the awards to win the Associated Press’ Coach, Offensive Player and Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Barely a year after being named the youngest head coach in modern NFL history, Sean McVay, now 32, became the youngest to be voted NFL Coach of the Year.

Two years after winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, Rams running back Todd Gurley returned to NFL Honors to claim Offensive Player of the Year.

Despite missing training camp because of a contract holdout, which caused him to miss the season opener, Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald finished with the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Gurley and Donald were just the second pair of teammates to win the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards, joining Jamal Lewis and Ray Lewis of Baltimore in 2003.

“To be honored is very flattering, but you look at Todd and Aaron, that’s what’s special,” McVay said. “To see those guys up there accept those awards, that’s why you get into coaching, to help players reach their highest potential.”

McVay, who called his honor “the ultimate team award,” inherited a team that went 4-12 and finished last in the NFL in scoring and total offense.

Under McVay, the Rams became the first team since 1965 to go from worst to first in scoring, won the NFC West for the first time since 2003 and ended a 13-year playoff drought.

“It’s very humbling and flattering to be able to receive this,” McVay told reporters, “but this is a reflection of our team and our organization, great coaches, great players. I'm just happy to be a part of it."

McVay was often critical of himself after a loss during the season, so it was fitting that he critiqued himself on the night he won NFL Coach of the Year as a rookie.

“It does feel a little bittersweet only because you remember the Falcons game,” said McVay, mentioning the Rams’ playoff loss. “I know I want to do a better job for our team, the way that I can look at myself critically and figure out how we can get better.

“Ultimately, what you want to be doing this time of year to still practicing and getting a chance to compete, what the Eagles and Patriots are doing.”

The Rams' Todd Gurley accepts the award for the Associated Press 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year at the seventh annual NFL Honors at the Cyrus Northrop Memorial Auditorium on Saturday in Minneapolis.(Photo: MICHAEL ZORN/NFL)

Gurley led the NFL in touchdowns (19) and yards from scrimmage (2,093), one year after a disappointing season labeled a “sophomore slump” by Rams general manager Les Snead.

“That's what I love about sports, you know?” Gurley said. “You're not going to have a great year every year. That's why you go through the bad times and you enjoy the good times like this.”

Gurley’s bounce-back campaign mirrored the Rams’ revival as a team.

“It just tells you what type of people we were and what type of team we were to be able to go through that rough stretch and be able to bounce back and just turn everything around,” Gurley said. “There's no better feeling than winning games, especially in the NFL.”

Gurley joined Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk (1999, 2000, 2001) and Eric Dickerson (1986) as the Rams to win Offensive Player of the Year. He finished second in the MVP voting to Tom Brady.

The Rams' Aaron Donald holds his Defensive Player of the Year award on Saturday night.(Photo: KIRBY LEE/USA TODAY SPORTS)

Donald was emotional holding his award.

“It's a dream come true,” Donald said. “This is what you dream about as a kid, dreaming about playing in the NFL to have success like this, to be able to be up here right now holding this trophy.

“Words really can't express how I feel right now, trying to hold back the tears, man.”

Despite only playing 14 games, Donald was yet again Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded interior defender, leading the league in quarterback pressures with 91.

He 11 sacks, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He also led the team in quarterback hits with 27.

“Definitely a solid season,” Donald said, “but you always want to do more.

“That's the best thing about this game, you can't be comfortable. Once you get comfortable, that's when you're no longer (any) good.”

Donald is the seventh defensive tackle to win the award, joining Hall of Famers Warren Sapp, Joe Green and Alan Page. No player at the position had won the award since 1999.

He mentioned the thrill of meeting Lewis this week. The “legend” he watched growing up knowing his name. He also mentioned enjoying the film of fellow defensive linemen Gerald McCoy, Fletcher Cox and Geno Atkins, calling them “fun to watch” “week in and week out.”

He was also asked how the honor might impact his contract negotiations.

“I’ve got a good team,” Donald said. “I've got great agents, that I know are going to handle the business side. I trust those guys. All I can do is play football... When it happens, it happens."

All three winners were asked what Saturday’s results might mean for next season.
Gurley called it a motivating factor for the offseason.

“You don't want to go backwards, so we just got to keep working hard,” Gurley said. “Just get better every day and just have that one goal in mind that everybody has and that's to be playing (this weekend), instead of be talking to you guys.”

Donald called it a reminder of the Rams’ potential.

“We definitely have a whole lot to build off of,” Donald said. “We've got a young, hungry coach with a lot of young, hungry players (who aren't) satisfied. That know we still should be still playing right now.

"The sky's the limit. We make mistakes just like anybody else. I don't want to say we were perfect. We've got a lot of room for improvement. That's the best thing. I feel like the season we had was a great season, but it (isn’t) the best that we can do.”

McVay used the opportunity to remind his team that the stakes have been raised.

“What it means is we had a good season that I think we can build on, but everything is earned in this league,” McVay said. “Just because we won the division last year doesn't mean anything going into next year.

“I know there will be some raised expectations, but we love that and we won't shy away from them.”

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